Anti-cntn4 antibody and use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anti-CNTN4 antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof, a pharmaceutical composition containing the same, and a use thereof for activating T cells upregulating cell-mediated immune responses, for example, for treating cancer.

1 . An anti-CNTN4 antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof comprising:
 a light chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 70;   a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 88;   a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 116;   a heavy chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 58;   a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 89; and   a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 115.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the light chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; and   wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.   
     
     
         3 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the light chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 156; and   wherein the heavy chain variable region comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 159.   
     
     
         4 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , specifically binding to a human or mouse CNTN4 protein. 
     
     
         30 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , binding to a human CNTN4 protein with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1×10 −7  M or less. 
     
     
         31 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , increasing an activity of T cell. 
     
     
         32 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 31 , wherein the T cell is CD4+ T cell or CD8+ T cell. 
     
     
         33 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antigen-binding fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′, Fab′-SH, Fv, a single chain antibody scFv, a (Fab′)2 fragment, a single domain antibody, a diabody (dAb), and a linear antibody. 
     
     
         34 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a chimeric antibody or a humanized antibody. 
     
     
         35 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is a multi-specific antibody. 
     
     
         36 . The anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody is conjugated with a drug. 
     
     
         37 . A nucleic acid molecule encoding the antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         38 . A recombinant expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 37 . 
     
     
         39 . A method for preventing or treating cancer, the method comprising administering, to a subject, an effective amount of the anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof of  claim 1 , and optionally an effective amount of an additional anticancer agent. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the additional anticancer agent is an immune checkpoint inhibitor or a chemotherapeutic agent. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is one or more selected from the group consisting of an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, an anti-PD-1 antibody, and an anti-PD-L1 antibody. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the anti-CNTN4 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and the additional anticancer agent are simultaneously administered to a subject as a single formulation, or are simultaneously or sequentially administered to a subject as separate formulations. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the cancer is a cancer that expresses CNTN4. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising providing an additional anticancer therapy to the subject. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the additional anticancer therapy is one or more selected from the group consisting of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, a chemotherapeutic agent, and a radiotherapy.